When she's in a hurry, the Queen of Warren Park whooshes by at 10 miles an hour. Her kingdom: almost 90 acres of parkland, along Western Avenue's northernmost reach. Her throne--actually an aging white golf cart--moans to a halt when her majesty spots fast-food wrappers along the concrete path. "I'm not picking up this paper because you're here," she says, dumping the trash in a nearby bin. "I do it all the time." For park supervisor Diana Lynn Schilz, the title "queen" might be...

Opponents of a plan to build a senior center in a park on Chicago's North Side said they are worried about losing open green space, but they also see the threat as the latest proposed development projects swallowing up parks throughout the city. "Parkland is not a land bank for other government agencies," said Erma Tranter of the Friends of the Park organization. During a protest Thursday, residents in the West Rogers Park neighborhood criticized a plan...

It's down to a goat, some chickens and a few ducks, but it's still a zoo. For now, at least. Residents of Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood plan to host a series of meetings beginning Thursday to discuss what will happen to the small zoo at Indian Boundary Park, after the Chicago Park District in late May proposed to replace it with a nature center. Residents have reacted strongly to plans that would turn the nearly 90-year-old zoo at 2500 W. Lunt Ave. into a nature...

The kids liked the batting cages and the free hot dogs, but they loved seeing Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks. Banks and Chicago Park District General Supt. David Doig--and a few dozen 7th and 8th grade baseball fans--ignored freezing weather Monday to open the new Park District batting cages on the Far North Side. Before and after the opening ceremony, about 30 children lined up to get Banks' autograph as he sat in a covered golf cart next to the cages in the northwest corner of...

By David Kidwell and Bill Ruthhart, Chicago Tribune reporters | August 9, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's new speed cameras will start spitting out warning tickets to disobedient motorists near four city parks next week, with at least eight more locations to be added in September. A reminder of the rules: Owners of vehicles going from 6 to 10 mph over the posted speed limit will get a warning citation for the first 30 days after a camera is installed. After that, the motorist would receive a warning for a first offense, followed by $35 tickets for subsequent violations.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's controversial speed cameras will get their first test next month in four locations as the city tries to determine whether the technology to catch speeding cars works. No tickets will be issued to drivers caught going above the speed limit during the testing period, from Dec. 3 to Jan. 3, according to a news release Wednesday from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. The city will test mobile and permanent cameras at two North Side locations: Warren Park in the...

Two men were stabbed Sunday afternoon during a fight at the Pakistan Independence Day festival at Warren Park in the West Ridge neighborhood, authorities said. The men were stabbed about 5:30 in the 6600 block of North Western Avenue, said Chicago police spokesman Matthew Jackson. One of the men was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital and listed in serious condition, police said. The other man was in good condition at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, officials said. ...

Chicago police were searching for two men wanted in the attempted abduction of two children Saturday in the Rogers Park neighborhood. About 11:50 a.m., two young boys reported that an older blue cargo van with tinted rear windows and rusted wheel wells pulled alongside them as they were walking in an alley near Warren Park. "The driver of the van told the boys to get into the van, and the boys ran home and reported the incident to their parents," police said Sunday...

About the only thing this Labor Day festival lacks is an actual Labor Day parade. But if you look up in the sky this weekend, you just might catch a glimpse of someone plunging straight down to Warren Park. Skydivers will be jumping both Sunday and Monday as part of the 11th annual Howard W. Carroll Foundation's 50 Fest, an annual festival featuring performances by Mickey and the Memories and the Chicago Grandstand Big Band. Three stages will present continuous live entertainment, including the Jesse...

When she's in a hurry, the Queen of Warren Park whooshes by at 10 miles an hour. Her kingdom: almost 90 acres of parkland, along Western Avenue's northernmost reach. Her throne--actually an aging white golf cart--moans to a halt when her majesty spots fast-food wrappers along the concrete path. "I'm not picking up this paper because you're here," she says, dumping the trash in a nearby bin. "I do it all the time." For park supervisor Diana Lynn Schilz, the title "queen" might be...

Opponents of a plan to build a senior center in a park on Chicago's North Side said they are worried about losing open green space, but they also see the threat as the latest in a string of development projects swallowing up parks throughout the city. "Park land is not a land bank for other government agencies," said Erma Tranter, of the Friends of the Park organization. During a protest Thursday, West Rogers Park residents criticized a plan to build a senior center at Warren...

Chicago police were searching for two men wanted in the attempted abduction of two children Saturday in the Rogers Park neighborhood. About 11:50 a.m., two young boys reported that an older blue cargo van with tinted rear windows and rusted wheel wells pulled alongside them as they were walking in an alley near Warren Park. "The driver of the van told the boys to get into the van, and the boys ran home and reported the incident to their parents," police said Sunday...

Opponents of a plan to build a senior center in a park on Chicago's North Side said they are worried about losing open green space, but they also see the threat as the latest proposed development projects swallowing up parks throughout the city. "Parkland is not a land bank for other government agencies," said Erma Tranter of the Friends of the Park organization. During a protest Thursday, residents in the West Rogers Park neighborhood criticized a plan...

Opponents of a plan to build a senior center in a park on Chicago's North Side said they are worried about losing open green space, but they also see the threat as the latest in a string of development projects swallowing up parks throughout the city. "Park land is not a land bank for other government agencies," said Erma Tranter, of the Friends of the Park organization. During a protest Thursday, West Rogers Park residents criticized a plan to build a senior center at Warren...

If it isn't one thing, it's another. The Chicago Board of Education is often stymied by lack of funds in attempting to solve the myriad problems that face the district. But in the case of relieving overcrowding in three Rogers Park elementary schools, money is not an issue; over $8 million for a new school was approved in 1993. Now another vexing problem has arisen-there's no place to put the school. After a two-year search, the Public Building Commission recently announced plans to...

First came the big horn-honking parade, with many floats, along Devon Avenue. On Sunday afternoon, the street was aflutter with the national flag of Pakistan, dark green with a white bar, representing the country's Muslim majority, as well as its respect for minorities. A crescent indicates progress. A five-pointed star represents light and knowledge. Then came the Mela, a gala festival for more than 10,000 people in nearby Warren Park. Some 40 vendors were selling everything from...